Authorities block access to influential blog covering Bandargate scandal

Access to one of Bahrain's most influential blogs, http://mahmood.tv, which openly criticises government and parliament members and has of late being covering the “Bandargate” scandal currently shaking the country, was blocked yesterday. The blog's author, Mahmood Al-Yousif, has nonetheless managed to move it to a new address, http://alyousif.tv/, which has not yet been blocked. The authorities already blocked several news websites on 26 October in a wave of censorship taking place less than a month before parliamentary elections. ---------------------------------------------------------- 27.10.06 Website blocked one month ahead of parliamentary elections On 26 October 2006, access to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) website ( http://www.bahrainrights.org ) was blocked by Batelco, Bahrain's main Internet service provider (ISP). This action may be linked to the website's coverage of "Bandargate", a political scandal involving the royal family and several Bahraini politicians. In March 2006, the Social Development Ministry threatened the directors of BCHR with disciplinary action if they did not stop their activities. The Cassation Court had ordered the centre's closure on 22 February. Members of the organisation currently risk a prison sentence of up to six months and a 500 BD (approx. 1,045 euro) fine. The vice-president of BCHR, Abd al-Hadi al-Khawaja, was arrested in September 2004 after publishing an article in which he criticised Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa al-Khalifa and denounced the country's economic problems (see IFEX alert of 29 September 2004). The BCHR is a non-governmental organisation that promotes human rights in Bahrain. Its 26 founding members are doctors, lawyers and journalists. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is the organisation's current president. Seven other information and discussion websites have also been blocked in Bahrain by Batelco: http://www.montadayat.org - http://shaheedbh.com - http://www.ahraralbahrain.com - http://www.bahraintimes.org - http://www.alsaheefa.net - http://www.tubli.net - http://www.rezgar.com In RSF's latest ranking of press freedom, Bahrein was ranked 111th out of 168 countries. ------------- Create your blog with Reporters without borders: www.rsfblog.org